Buffer turret apparatus

ABSTRACT

A rotatable buffer turret apparatus on which plural pairs of punches and dies to be set on a turret of a turret punch press are set, includes an upper buffer turret on which punch attachment holes in which the punches can be set are arranged circularly, and a lower buffer turret on which die attachment holes that is associated with the punch attachment holes and in which the dies can be set are arranged circularly. The upper and lower buffer turrets are rotatably attached to a single rotary shaft. A diameter of the lower buffer turret is made larger than a diameter of the upper buffer turret. The die attachment holes are formed in a circular die attachment area having a diameter larger than the diameter of the upper buffer turret. According to the apparatus, a tool exchange manually operated by an operator can be done easily and efficiently.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a buffer turret apparatus that isdisposed between a tool stocker for stocking plural tools (plural pairsof punch and die) and a turret punch press, and exchanges tools at theturret punch press.

BACKGROUND ART

A turret punch press is provided with rotatable turrets (an upper turretand a lower turret). Exchangeable tools (punches and dies) are attachedto the turrets. By exchanging the tools, various punching works andpressing works can be made to a plate-shaped workpiece. With respect toan exchange of a tool (punch and die) to be used in a next process, thetool to be used in the next process is prepared, and then the tool to beused in the next process is exchanged when a current process is stoppedor after the current process is finished. In order to prepare the toolto be used in the next process, a buffer turret apparatus is disposed ina turret punch press or near a turret punch press (see, a PatentDocument 1 listed below).

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

-   Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.    2009-125781.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In a buffer turret apparatus disclosed in the Patent Document 1,exchanging tools with a turret punch press is done by a first auto toolchanger. In addition, exchanging tools with a tool stocker that storesmany tools is done by a second auto tool changer. Namely, it is nottaken into consideration that exchanging tools with the buffer turretapparatus is done by an operator.

Therefore, it is not easy for an operator to exchange tools with thebuffer turret apparatus manually. In addition, in exchanging tools withthe buffer turret apparatus manually by an operator, if the operatordoesn't see documented work instructions, he/she cannot discriminatetools to be selected from others. As a result, exchanging tools with thebuffer turret apparatus manually by an operator is difficult andinefficient.

An object of the present invention is to provide a buffer turretapparatus by which a tool exchange manually operated by an operator canbe done easily and efficiently.

An aspect of the present invention provides a rotatable buffer turretapparatus on which plural pairs of punches and dies to be set on aturret of a turret punch press are set, the apparatus comprising: anupper buffer turret on which a plurality of punch attachment holes inwhich the punches can be set are arranged circularly; and a lower bufferturret on which a plurality of die attachment holes that is associatedwith the plurality of punch attachment holes and in which the dies canbe set are arranged circularly, wherein the upper buffer turret and thelower buffer turret are rotatably attached to a single rotary shaft, adiameter of the lower buffer turret is made larger than a diameter ofthe upper buffer turret, and the plurality of die attachment holes isformed in a circular die attachment area having a diameter larger thanthe diameter of the upper buffer turret.

Here, it is preferable that a status indicator that indicates a statusof a punch and a die set in a punch attachment hole and a die attachmenthole that are served as a pair is provided near each of at least one ofthe plurality of punch attachment holes and the plurality of dieattachment holes.

It is preferable that the status indicator includes an LED switch thatilluminates with a plurality of colors including a first color and asecond color, and is configured to indicate the status of the punch andthe die by an indication status thereof made by combination oflighting-up and blinking of the first color and lighting-up and blinkingof the second color.

Further, it is preferable to comprise further an indication statuscontroller that controls the indication status of the LED switch, and acomparator that compares data with respect to a tool to be exchangedwith data with respect to a tool set on the buffer turret apparatus,wherein the indication status controller controls the status indicatorto indicate, as a comparison result of the comparator, a status whetheror not the punch and the die set in the punch attachment hole and thedie attachment hole is exchangeable, as the status of the punch and thedie.

In addition, it is preferable to comprise further an ID reader that readan ID marked on the punch and the die is provided on a conveying path ofthe punch and the die from the upper buffer turret and the lower bufferturret to the turret punch press, or near the conveying path.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[FIG. 1] It is a partial perspective view of a buffer turret apparatusaccording to an embodiment and a turret punch press provided with anauto tool changer.

[FIG. 2] It is a perspective view of the buffer turret apparatus.

[FIG. 3] It is a plan view showing a positional relation betweenattachment holes and status indicators in the buffer turret apparatus.

[FIG. 4] It is a functional block diagram of the buffer turretapparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

As shown in FIG. 1, a buffer turret apparatus 1 according to the presentembodiment is attached to a turret punch press 3. Since the turret punchpress 3 has popular configurations, detailed explanations for itsconfigurations and its operations will be omitted.

In the buffer turret apparatus 1, a base end of its support bracket 5Uis fixed with a frame 7 of the turret punch press 3 by bolts. Note thatthe buffer turret apparatus 1 may be disposed near the turret punchpress 3 without being attached to the turret punch press 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the buffer turret apparatus 1 includes a verticalrotary shaft 9 rotatably supported at a distal end of the supportbracket 5U. An upper buffer turret on which plural punch attachmentholes 11 are arranged circularly is attached to the rotary shaft 9. Inaddition, a lower buffer turret 17 on which plural die attachment holes15 are arranged circularly is also attached to the rotary shaft 9 belowthe upper buffer turret 13.

Namely, the upper buffer turret 13 and the lower buffer turret 17 areattached to the rotary shaft 9 so as to be distanced vertically fromeach other. In addition, a support circular plate 19 having a diameterequal to that of the upper buffer turret 13 is attached to the upperbuffer turret 13 below the upper buffer turret 13 and above the lowerbuffer turret 17. The support circular plate 19 restrains dangling of alower end of a punch(es) when the punch is set in the punch attachmenthole 11 of the upper buffer turret 13. Therefore, punch restraint holes21 are formed on the support circular plate 19 so as to be associatedwith the punch attachment holes 11. In addition, a key that engages witha key slot provided on an outer circumference of the punch(es) isprotruded from an inner edge of the punch restraint hole(s) 21 torestraint rotations of a punch in the punch attachment hole(s) 11.

Therefore, when rotating a tool (punch and die) held on the bufferturrets 13 and 17 to a desired rotational position by rotating therotary shaft 9 by a servomotor (not shown), dangling of an lower end ofthe punch(es) is effectively prevented by the punch restraint hole(s) 21of the support circular plate 19, and rotations of the punch(es) in thepunch attachment hole(s) 11 are effectively restrained by the key slotand the key. Namely, the buffer turrets 13 and 17 can be rotated rapidlyto their desired rotational position.

As shown in FIG. 1, the buffer turrets 13 and 17 are supported by thesupport bracket 5U, and are covered by a cover frame 23 attached to alower support bracket 5L. On the cover frame 23, provided is a door 25that is opened when tools (punches and dies) are to be set-on orremoved-from the upper buffer turret 13 and the lower buffer turret 17.In addition, an opening 27 is formed on the cover frame 23 on itsportion on a side of a turret 3T of the turret punch press 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, in order to set tools (punches and dies) on or toremove them from the buffer turrets 13 and 17 easily, a diameter of thelower buffer turret 17 is made larger than the diameter of the upperbuffer turret 13. In order not to make a die(s) contacted with the upperbuffer turret 13 when setting the die(s) on or removing it from theupper buffer turret 13, the plural die attachment holes 15 formed on thelower buffer turret 17 are arranged outward from an outer circumferenceof the upper buffer turret 13. Namely, the plural die attachment holes15 are formed in a circular die attachment area having a diameter largerthan that of the upper buffer turret 13. Therefore, an operator canoperate his/her works easily when he/she opens the door 25 and thenmanually sets tools (punches and dies) on or manually removes them fromthe buffer turrets 13 and 17.

As shown in FIG. 1, an auto tool changer 29 is provided between thebuffer turret apparatus 1 and the turret 3T of the turret punch press 3in order to exchange tools (punches and dies) between the buffer turretapparatus 1 and the turret 3T. The auto tool changer 29 is configured ofa robot arm in which plural horizontally swingable arms are jointed, andis attached to a side surface of the frame 7. Then, a tool gripper 31that is horizontally and vertically movable is attached to a distal endof the robot arm.

Note that the auto tool changer 29 is not limited to the auto toolchanger having the above-explained configurations, but an auto toolchanger having arbitrary configurations may be adopted. In addition,since configurations of the robot arm in which the plural swingable armsare jointed are commonly known, more detailed explanations for the autotool changer 29 are omitted.

Exchanging of tools between the buffer turret apparatus 1 and the turret3T is done by the auto tool changer 29. In addition, in the presentembodiment, an ID reader 33 (see, FIG. 1) that can read an ID tag or anID code marked on a tool(s) (punch and die) to be conveyed by the autotool changer 29 is provided near the opening 27 of the cover frame 23.Namely, the ID reader 33 is disposed on a conveying path of a tool(s)(punch and die) from the buffer turrets 13 and 17 to the turret 3T, ornear the conveying path.

Therefore, a tool to be exchanged between the buffer turret apparatus 1and the turret 3T is conveyed to the ID reader 33 by the auto toolchanger 29, and then its ID tag or ID code is read by the ID reader 33.Namely, it can be possible to verify whether a tool(s) conveyed by theauto tool changer 29, i.e. newly set on the buffer turret apparatus 1,is valid or invalid.

At a position associated with each of the punch attachment holes 11 onthe upper buffer turret 13 or a position associated with each of the dieattachment holes 15, a status indicator 35 that indicates a status of atool (punch and die) set in the punch attachment hole 11 and the dieattachment hole 15 provided as a pair. The status indicator 35 in thepresent embodiment is configured of a commercially available LED switch.

The LED switch 35 includes a first switch 37A that illuminates with afirst color (yellow in the present embodiment), and a second switch 37Bthat illuminates with a second color (blue in the present embodiment).The first switch 37A and the second switch 37B can be lighted-up/blinkedindependently from each other. Of course, the first switch 37A and thesecond switch 37B can be also lighted-up/blinked simultaneously.Therefore, the LED switch (status indicator) 35 can indicate a firststatus where only the first switch 37A is lighted up, a second statuswhere only the first switch 37A is blinked, a third status where onlythe second switch 37B is lighted up, a fourth status where only thesecond switch 37B is blinked, a fifth status where the first switch 37Aand the second switch 37B are lighted up, and a sixth status where thefirst switch 37A and the second switch 37B are blinked.

When setting a tool to be used in a next process on the buffer turretapparatus 1, it is indicated, by lighting the first switch 37A(indicating the first status) of the LED switch 35 associating with theattachment holes 11 and 15 holding an exchangeable (removable) tool,that the tool (punch and die) in the attachment holes 11 and 15 isexchangeable. In addition, the LED switch 35 associated with emptyattachment holes 11 and 15 holding no tool also indicates the firststatus. Then, when a new tool is set in the attachment holes 11 and 15after removing a tool from them, or when a new tool is set in emptyattachment holes 11 and 15, the first switch 37A is blinked (indicatesthe second status) to notify exchange completion of the tool in theattachment holes 11 and 15.

In addition, when the third status is indicated by lighting a secondswitch 37B, a tool set in the attachment holes 11 and 15 associated withthe second switch 37B is a tool whose set angle or die clearance shouldbe changed. Then, after its set angle or die clearance is changed, anoperator blinks the second switch 37B (indicates the fourth status) tonotify change completion of its set angle or die clearance.

In addition when a tool whose ID tag or ID code is read by the ID reader33 differs from a tool preliminarily registered in a registration memory59 of an NC machine 39, the first switch 37A and the second switch 37Bare lighted up (indicate the fifth status) to notify that the tool isinvalid. Note that the registration in the registration memory 59 willbe explained later in detail. The indication of the fifth statusnotifies that re-verification by using the ID reader 33, i.e. whether ornot an exchanged tool is a valid tool registered in the registrationmemory 59, is to be done repeatedly until the valid tool is set in theattachment holes 11 and 15.

On the other hand, when a tool whose ID tag or ID code is read by the IDreader 33 is a tool preliminarily registered in a registration memory 59of the NC machine 39, the first switch 37A and the second switch 37B areturned off to notify that the tool is valid and is not needed to beexchanged (is prevented from being exchanged). Namely, the extinctionsof the first switch 37A and the second switch 37B indicates a statuswhere a valid tool whose set angle or whose die clearance are not neededto be exchanged is set in the attachment holes 11 and 15.

Note that combinations of indication modes for the first to sixthstatuses by the first switch 37A and the second switch 37B and statusesof a tool (e.g. need to be exchanged/no need to be exchanged) can be setarbitrarily.

An NC machine 39 that controls operations of the turret punch press 3,the buffer turret apparatus 1 and the auto tool changer 29 is provided.The NC machine 39 is configured of a computer, and includes a programretriever 43 for retrieving a processing program 41 and tool informationto be used by the processing program 41. When the processing program 41is retrieved, a tool extractor 45 extracts a tool(s) (punch and die) tobe used, and a program tool data table 47 that defines a relation(s)between a tool number(s) of the extracted tool(s) and a turret stationnumber(s) of the turret 3T to which the tool extracted tool(s) is to beset, is generated.

Further, the NC machine 39 also includes a turret tool data table 49that defines a relation(s) between a tool number(s) of a tool(s) alreadyset on the turret 3T and its turret station number(s) of the turret 3T.Then, the NC machine 39 includes an exchange tool extractor 51 thatcompares the program tool data table 47 with the turret tool data table49 and thereby extracts (1) a tool(s) that is set on the turret 3T butis not to be used, (2) a tool(s) that is set on the turret 3T and is tobe used, and (3) a tool(s) that is not set on the turret 3T but is to beused. When the above-explained tools (1) to (3) are extracted by theexchange tool extractor 51, an exchange tool data table 53 is generated.

In addition, in the NC machine 39, a buffer turret tool data table 55that defines a relation(s) between a tool numbers of a tool(s) set onthe buffer turret apparatus 1 and a station number of the buffer turrets13 and 17 at which the tool(s) is set, is preliminarily stored. Then,the buffer turret tool data table 55 and the exchange tool data table 53are compared with each other by a comparator 57.

As a result of the comparison by the comparator 57, if a tool(s) (3)that is not set on the turret 3T but is to be used is set on the bufferturrets 13 and 17 among the extracted tools by the exchange toolextractor 51, its tool number(s) is related to the station number(s) ofthe buffer turrets 13 and 17 and then is registered in the registrationmemory 59.

In addition, as a result of the comparison by the comparator 57, if atool(s) (3) that is not set on the turret 3T but is to be used is notdefined in the buffer turret tool data table 55 (i.e. it is needed to bepicked up from a tool stocker), an exchange station data table 61 thatdefines a relation between the tool(s) and a station number(s) of thebuffer turrets 13 and 17 (empty, or a exchangeable tool(s) is setthereon), is generated. The exchange station data table 61 is displayedon a display device 6, and thereby an operator can recognize the toolnumber(s) to be set and the station number(s) of the buffer turrets 13and 17 at which the tool(s) should be set.

Further, as a result of the comparison by the comparator 57, if atool(s) (3) that is not set on the turret 3T but is to be used isalready set on the buffer turrets 13 and 17 and its set angle or dieclearance should be changed when setting it on the turret 3T, anangle/clearance change data table 63 that defines a relation between atool number(s) of the tool(s) and a station number(s) of the bufferturrets 13 and 17 at which the tool(s) is already set, is generated. Theangle/clearance change data table 63 is also displayed on the displaydevice 6.

In addition, the NC machine 39 includes an indicator status controller65. The indication status controller 65 lights up the first switch(es)37A of the related status indicator(s) 35 based on the exchange stationdata table 61. In addition, the indication status controller 65 lightsup the related second switch(es) 37B based on the angle/clearance changedata table 63.

Therefore, when retrieving the processing program 41 and then performthe next pressing work, an operator can recognize that a punch and a dieset on the attachment holes 11 and 15 whose first switch 37A of thestatus indicator 35 is lighted up is exchangeable (removal, or theattachment holes 11 and 15 are empty). Then, the operator can recognizethe tool number(s) to be set in the punch attachment hole(s) 11 and thedie attachment hole(s) 15 by referring the display device 62, and canexchange it accurately and easily after picking up the tool(s) (punchand die) to be set in the punch attachment hole(s) 11 and the dieattachment hole(s) 15 from the tool stocker.

After setting the new tool(s) in the attachment holes 11 and 15 whosefirst switch 37A is lighted up, the operator pushes the first switch 37A(or, inputs an exchange completion of the tool(s) by using another inputdevice) to put the first switch 37A into a blinking state. By blinks ofthe first switch 37A, the exchange completion of the tool(s) (transferof the tool(s) from the tool stocker to the buffer turrets 13 and 17)can be indicated in an easy-to-recognize manner.

In addition, a tool(s) set in the attachment holes 11 and 15 whosesecond switches are lighted-up needs a change of its set angle or itsdie clearance. Therefore, after changing the set angle or the dieclearance with referring to the display device 62 and resetting thetool(s) to the attachment holes 11 and 15, the operator pushes thesecond switch 37B (or, inputs a change completion of the set angle orthe die clearance) to put the second switch 37B into a blinking state.By blinks of the second switch 37B, the change completion of the setangle or the die clearance can be indicated in an easy-to-recognizemanner.

The first switch 37A of the attachment holes 11 and 15 in which a newtool(s) is set is in the blinking state, and it will be verified whetherthe tool(s) is valid or invalid. Therefore, the tool(s) (punch and die)in the attachment holes 11 and 15 whose second switch 37B is blinked ispicked up by the auto tool changer 29 and its ID tag or ID code is readby the ID reader 33. The read ID tag or ID code is checked against theprogram tool data table 47, and, when the tool(s) is valid, its toolnumber(s) is related to the station number(s) of the buffer turrets 13and 17 and then is registered in the registration memory 59. Inaddition, when the tool(s) is invalid as a result of the check, both thefirst switch 37A and the second switch 37B are lighted up to indicatethat the tool(s) is invalid, and checking is continued until it isexchanged with a valid tool(s). When a valid tool(s) is setconclusively, its tool number(s) is related to the station number(s) ofthe buffer turrets 13 and 17 and then is registered in the registrationmemory 59.

As explained above, the station number(s) of the buffer turrets 13 and17 (the attachment holes 11 and 15) and the tool number(s) of the validtool(s) are registered in the registration memory 59 while they arerelated to each other. Then, press works are processed according to theprocessing program 41. First, based on contents registered in theregistration memory 59, the buffer turrets 13 and 17 are rotated and atool(s) to be conveyed by the auto tool changer 29 is picked up from thebuffer turret 13 and 17. The picked-up tool(s) is set on the turret 3T(or exchanged with a tool(s) set on the turret 3T) by the auto toolchanger 29.

When exchanging tools between the turret 3T and the buffer turretapparatus 1 by the auto tool changer 29, the tool to be exchanged ispreliminarily verified as being valid by the ID reader 33 as explainedabove. Therefore, the auto tool changer 29 can be operated smoothly, andthereby a tool exchange can be done rapidly. As a result, time requiredfor the tool exchange can be shortened, and an operation rate of theturret punch press 3 can be improved.

According to the present embodiment, the lower buffer turret 17 has adiameter larger than that of the upper buffer turret 13, and includesthe die attachment holes 15 in the circular die attachment area on anoutside of the upper buffer turret 13. Therefore, setting of a tool(s)(punch and die) on the upper buffer turret 13 and the lower bufferturret 17 and removing of the tool(s) from them can be done easily.

In addition, according to an indication status of the statusindicator(s) 35 at a position associated with a tool(s) to be newlyexchanged, an operator can recognize exchange necessity of tools and soon, and thereby can exchange the tool(s) easily.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can bedone in another embodiment with an adequate modification. For example, aliquid crystal display or the like may be provided as a statusindicator(s) instead of the first switch 37A and the second switch 37B,and a tool number(s) to be newly set and so on may be indicated on theliquid crystal display. In addition, it is possible to manage punchesand dies independently from each other by providing status indicators 35also on the upper buffer turret 13 in addition to the status indicators35 provided on the lower buffer turret 17. According to theseconfigurations, it is possible to confirm tools to be newly set based onindications of the status indicators 35, and thereby tools can beavoided from being erroneously set.

In addition, it is also possible to notify plural station numbers towhich tools to be newly set can be set, by lighting-up switches thereof.In this case, only if an operator sets a tool in any of the attachmentholes 11 and 15 whose switch is lighted-up and makes the switch blinked,its tool number and its station number are related to each other andregistered in the registration memory 59 by using its ID tag or ID code.Therefore, the operator can easily find the attachment holes 11 and 15in which a tool(s) should be set, and thereby can do his/her operationswithout any restraint (freely).

In addition, in the NC machine 39 in the above embodiment, thecomparison (the exchange tool extractor 51) between the turret tool datatable 49 and the program tool data table 47 and the comparison (thecomparator 57), via the exchange tool data table 53, between the bufferturret tool data table 55 and the program tool data table 47 are madeseparately. However, a tool number(s) of a tool(s) to be newly set and astation number(s) of a tool(s) that is set on the turret 3T or on thebuffer turrets 13 and 17 but is not to be used may be extracted based ona comparison between a tool data table (49+55) made by integrating theturret tool data table 49 and the buffer turret tool data table 55 withother and the program tool data table 47.

1. A rotatable buffer turret apparatus on which plural pairs of punchesand dies to be set on a turret of a turret punch press are set, theapparatus comprising: an upper buffer turret on which a plurality ofpunch attachment holes in which the punches can be set are arrangedcircularly; and a lower buffer turret on which a plurality of dieattachment holes that is associated with the plurality of punchattachment holes and in which the dies can be set are arrangedcircularly, wherein the upper buffer turret and the lower buffer turretare rotatably attached to a single rotary shaft, a diameter of the lowerbuffer turret is made larger than a diameter of the upper buffer turret,and the plurality of die attachment holes is formed in a circular dieattachment area having a diameter larger than the diameter of the upperbuffer turret.
 2. The buffer turret apparatus according to claim 1,wherein a status indicator that indicates a status of a punch and a dieset in a punch attachment hole and a die attachment hole that are servedas a pair is provided near each of at least one of the plurality ofpunch attachment holes and the plurality of die attachment holes.
 3. Thebuffer turret apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the statusindicator includes an LED switch that illuminates with a plurality ofcolors including a first color and a second color, and is configured toindicate the status of the punch and the die by an indication statusthereof made by combination of lighting-up and blinking of the firstcolor and lighting-up and blinking of the second color.
 4. The bufferturret apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising an indicationstatus controller that controls the indication status of the LED switch,and a comparator that compares data with respect to a tool to beexchanged with data with respect to a tool set on the buffer turretapparatus, wherein the indication status controller controls the statusindicator to indicate, as a comparison result of the comparator, astatus whether or not the punch and the die set in the punch attachmenthole and the die attachment hole is exchangeable, as the status of thepunch and the die.
 5. The buffer turret apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising an ID reader that read an ID marked on the punch andthe die is provided on a conveying path of the punch and the die fromthe upper buffer turret and the lower buffer turret to the turret punchpress, or near the conveying path.